Neville Raymond Towner, now aged in his early 50s, is serving life for the murder of Lauren who he abducted from the Nepean River Caravan Park where her family lived at Emu Plains in far-western Sydney.

It was May 17, 1989 and Towner, then aged 23, was alone with little Lauren.

The girl's parents believed their daughter was in the care of Towner's mother when she vanished from her parents' caravan.

A huge police search was mounted but no trace could be found of her.

Two days later, the little girl's near-naked body was found in a creek bed 500m west of the caravan park.

A court later heard that Towner had hit Lauren over the head with a rock before attempting to rape her, and drowned her in the Nepean River.

Police charged Towner with maliciously murdering Lauren Jennifer Hickson, and with assault with intent to sexually assault a child under 10.

Lauren Hickson, 4, was meant to be in the care of her babysitter when Neville Towner kidnapped and killed her.

Two days later, Towner attempted to take his own life in custody by slashing his wrists.

Shortly after his appearance in Penrith Court, outside where an angry crowd gathered, among them a man dangling a doll from a hangman's noose.

Towner was taken back to Parramatta prison where he allegedly attempted suicide while in the protection wing.

Smashing a light bulb in the isolation cell, he cut his wrists but did not bleed to death.

In 2002, Towner successfully had his life sentence redetermined with a minimum non-parole period.

In March last year, Towner faced a hearing before the State Parole Authority which announced its intention to release him.

Towner has not undergone any transition programs in prison, but has participated in one escorted day-release.

In a change.org petition to oppose his release, which has more than 111,800 signatures, Jurina Hickson said, "I'll never forgive him while I've still got breath in my body.

"The murder was so horrific. He sexually assaulted and tortured her.

"I just can't understand why a prisoner of his calibre is going to get a get-out-of-jail-free card."

Lauren's cousin, Robert Miell, begged people to sign the petition because "it might only be one signature that makes the difference".

Towner, 23, tried to commit suicide in custody.

Neville Towner after his 1989 arrest.

Jurina Hickson endured Towner’s appeal against a life sentence and now faces his potential prison release. Picture: Stephen Cooper.